30 Most Affordable Master’s in Math Education Online in 2021

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Updated June 24, 2021

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Adding an online master's in math education to your portfolio could multiply career opportunities relieving students' fears of algebra, geometry, calculus, and more. Math education master's degrees help STEM teachers make statistically significant improvements to sought-after pedagogical skills for better pay and stronger job stability.

Designated a high-need field for the Federal TEACH Grant, mathematics education is crucial for K-12 pupils to develop logical reasoning and problem-solving ability for lifelong success. In 2016, the Washington Post reported that the United States ranked 40th for math literacy among 73 countries with a PISA score 23 points lower than average. Falling further behind is likely if the mathematics teacher shortage reported in 42 states and Washington, DC, isn't remedied. The Association of Math Teacher Educators found that more than 10 percent of school districts have faced serious trouble filling STEM vacancies since 2000. Low prices and 24/7 course flexibility in math education master's online programs could be the perfect formula to join the 419,000 specialized teachers nationwide.

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These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master’s or PhD programs.

Most Affordable Master's in Math Education Online in 2021

  1. Chadron State College
    Location

    Chadron, NE

    Tuition

    $3600

    Home to the Nebraska Gamma Chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon, Chadron State College is a public, open-enrollment Panhandle teachers school established in 1911 that's endowed for $11.1 million to educate 3,000 Eagles at a 19:1 student-faculty ratio on the 281-acre campus near Buffalo Gap and online via Canvas. CSC was judged America's 124th best baccalaureate college in Washington Monthly, 222nd safest university on Niche, and 23rd most veteran-friendly school by Military Times Edge. Boasting our list's lowest price, the Teacher Education Department is CAEP accredited through Spring 2020 for a Master of Arts in Education – Mathematics Concentration Online. The 36-credit, two-year program organized by Dr. Donald King ends with a thesis or scholarly project after practice-based courses like Statistical Analysis. Another affordable Chadron State degree is the M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics and Science Education online.

  2. University of North Georgia
    Location

    Dahlonga, GA

    Tuition

    $4050

    Granted the 2012 Regents' Award for Teaching Excellence, the University of North Georgia is the Peach State's public, coeducational military college opened in 1873 that's endowed for $27.1 million to educate 609 post-grad Nighthawks in Dahlonega, Oakwood, Blue Ridge, Cumming, Watkinsville, and online. UNG is proclaimed America's 210th best master's university in Washington Monthly, 221st best value by The Economist, and 89th most conservative college on Niche. Home to the Appalachian Studies Center, the CAEP-accredited College of Education emphasizes rural needs within its Online Master of Education in Middle Grades Math & Science (Grades 4-8). The 36-credit, 16-month curriculum accepts applications until December 12th yearly for teachers seeking courses like Algebra & Geometry with LiveText assessments. Additional opportunities exist in North Georgia's Ed.D. in Education Leadership & Practice Online.

  3. Southeast Missouri State University
    Location

    Cape Girardeau, MO

    Tuition

    $4374

    Linked to 33,834 LinkedIn alumni, including Neal E. Boyd and Linda Godwin, Southeast Missouri State University is a public, coeducational OVC teachers college founded in 1873 that's endowed for $58.5 million to deliver 200+ academic programs online via Moodle or face-to-face near the Illinois border. SEMO is esteemed for America's 76th best online education master's program by the U.S. News & World Report, 249th top degrees overall in Washington Monthly, and 472nd most diversity on Niche. The CAEP-accredited College of Education headed by Dr. Diana Rogers-Adkinson in the Scully Building launched a Master of Arts in Elementary Education: Math/Science Emphasis Online. Offering funds like the $1,000 Rural Missouri Scholarship, the 33-credit, non-thesis program injects courses like Family-School Collaboration and Early Math Remediation before the written exam. Southeast Missouri also delivers an Online Master of Arts in Teaching STEM for Grades 5-12.

  4. Valdosta State University
    Location

    Valdosta, GA

    Tuition

    $4374

    Publishing Las Matrices Newsletter each spring, Valdosta State University is the second-oldest public, comprehensive USOG member of the Gulf South founded in 1906 that's endowed for $20.8 million to attract 11,200 Blazers from 50 states to its Blackboard Collaborate platform and two South Georgia campuses. VSU is crowned America's 207th best teacher education value on College Factual, 272nd top research institution in Washington Monthly, and 101st best online graduate education school by the U.S. News & World Report. The James & Dorothy Dewar College of Education has a residency-free Online Master of Education in Middle Grades Education – Math & Science. Directed by Dr. Lynn Minor, the 36-credit, 16-month program gives asynchronous access to courses from Research Methodology to Mathematical Reasoning with practicum. There's also an Online K-5 Mathematics Endorsement available.

  5. East Carolina University
    Location

    Greenville, NC

    Tuition

    $4656

    Hosting its 40th Annual Math Contest in March 2018, East Carolina University is a public, doctoral sea-grant economic prosperity institution that's endowed for $207.9 million to instruct 5,461 post-grad Pirates in 71 master's programs meeting at the 530-acre, Spanish Mission-style Greenville campus and online. ECU was determined America's 18th best online education college by the U.S. News & World Report, 105th top service university in Washington Monthly, and 93rd best college on the Social Mobility Index. Placed in the NCTQ 96th percentile, the College of Education managed by Dr. Grant Hayes confers the Master of Arts in Education – Mathematics Education Online. The 36-credit, non-thesis program blends synchronous with asynchronous courses in Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12) concentrations. Other M.A.Ed. Online offerings include Adult Education, Instructional Technology, and Special Education.

  6. Kennesaw State University
    Location

    Kennesaw, GA

    Tuition

    $4734

    Registering 400+ clubs, such as the Mathematical Association of America (MMA), Kennesaw State University is a public, research-intensive USOG member of the Atlantic Sun founded in 1963 that's endowed for $40 million to welcome 2,852 post-grads from 92 countries to its Cobb County, Marietta, and online D2L campuses. KSU is honored for the 219th best online graduate teaching by the U.S. News & World Report, 170th most Peace Corps volunteers in Washington Monthly, and 118th best location on Niche nationally. Standing on Parliament Garden Way, the CAEP-accredited Bagwell College confers the Online M.Ed. in Secondary or Middle Grades Mathematics for Grades 4-12. The 36-credit, content-based program chaired by Dr. Desha Williams accepts $60 applications until April 1st or July 1st for entering courses like Differential Equations. Teachers also pursue Kennesaw's Online M.Ed. in Special Education and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership.

  7. Montana State University
    Location

    Bozeman, MT

    Tuition

    $4797

    Teaching 16,703 Bobcats in 51 fields with 743 full-time faculty, Montana State University is Big Sky Country's largest public, land-grant Rockies institution established in 1893 that's endowed for $119.8 million with a 1,170-acre West Yellowstone campus and online study via Desire2Learn. MSU was distinguished America's 173rd best research university in Forbes, 205th top public school on Niche, and 187th best master's college by Washington Monthly. Labeled "Distinctive" by the WICHE Western Regional Graduate Program, the Department of Mathematical Sciences under Dr. Elizabeth Burroughs has granted the Master of Science in Mathematics – Mathematics Education Option since 2000. The part-time, nine-term online program ends with an action research project after post-grads with 2+ years of teaching experience finish courses like Statistics and Geometry. Also consider the M.S. Science Education and M.S. Agricultural Education Online.

  8. University of North Carolina at Greensboro
    Location

    Greensboro, NC

    Tuition

    $5117

    Known for its Teaching Resources Center in Walter Clinton Jackson Library, the University of North Carolina Greensboro is a public, service-centric APLU liberal arts school that's endowed for $251.8 million to immerse 3,100 post-grad Spartans within 61 master's programs in Guilford County or online. UNCG is ranked America's 80th best graduate education school in the U.S. News & World Report, 149th top public college on Niche, and 224th best university overall by the CWUR. Publishing Transform Magazine, the CAEP-accredited School of Education has the Online MEd in Teacher Education: Elementary Mathematics Education for Class "A" certified teachers. The 33-credit, two-year curriculum organized by Dr. Kerri Richardson ends with a K-5 leadership project after engaging courses from Spatial Visualization to Rational Numbers. There's also an Online M.Ed. in Birth-Kindergarten Interdisciplinary Studies in Education.

  9. University of Nebraska at Kearney
    Location

    Kearney, NE

    Tuition

    $5418

    Gifting $28.17 million in annual financial aid, including the Agnes & Harry Neal Scholarship, the University of Nebraska Kearney is a public, coeducational teaching institution founded as the State Normal School in 1905 that's budgeting $147 million to train 1,550 Lopers at its 36-building Buffalo County campus and online. UNK is decreed America's 339th best value in Money magazine, 263rd best education school on Niche, and 174th top master's college by Washington Monthly. The CAEP-accredited College of Education utilizes the eCampus for a Science/Math Education M.S.Ed. Program Online that qualifies for Nebraska Master Teacher distinction. Coordinated by Dr. Sheryl Feinstein, the 36-credit, post-certification curriculum develops advanced methodologies in courses like Assistive Technology and Linear Algebra. Check out Kearney's Curriculum and Instruction M.A.Ed. in STEM Education and Instructional Effectiveness too.

  10. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
    Location

    Edinburg, TX

    Tuition

    $5439

    Declared a Center of Excellence in STEM Education, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is an affordable public, Hispanic-serving UT system constituent merged in 2013 that's budgeting $510 million to teach 29,000 Vaqueros from 67 countries online via Blackboard or in Edinburg, South Padre Island, Harlingen, and McAllen. UTRGV is crowned America's 235th best research university in Forbes, 214th top master's institution by Washington Monthly, and 350th best value on College Factual. Chaired by Dr. Patricia McHatton, the CAEP-accredited College of Education and P-12 Integration presents the Online Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a Mathematics Specialization. The 30-credit, 10-month program accelerates teachers through seven-week virtual courses like Algebraic Concepts and Research in Mathematics to an original project. Rio Grande Valley also confers the M.Ed. Elementary Math and Science Education Specialization online.

Grad School Hub compiles rankings based on public data released from educational, commercial, and government databases. Sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics play a significant role in how we source our educational data. After collecting insight for each institution, we organize information into five weighted categories.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 30%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 10%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 30%
Program Offerings Number of program options 20%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 10%
A more comprehensive evaluation of how each category is determined and scored is accessible on our Ranking Methodology page.

Which Careers Benefit From Master's in Math Education Online Degrees?

Subtracting time from your schedule for a math education master's online would qualify you for most full-time teaching jobs, aside from university faculty or research positions, to boost students' quantitative knowledge from PreK-12 to junior college. Advanced courses paired with actual classroom practice will satisfy the endorsement requirements for most states. For example, the New York State Education Department offers the Professional Mathematics 7-12 Certificate to initially certified master's teachers with 3+ years of experience. Since 2001, the Texas Educator Certification Testing has conferred the Master Mathematics Teacher (MMT) title in Early Childhood-Grade 4, Grades 4-8, or Grades 8-12 for passing a $131 exam. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards also has board certification in Early Adolescence or Adolescence and Young Adulthood Mathematics after a four-part, $475 portfolio review process. Here are five possible job descriptions where completing an online master's in math education can increase employability exponentially:

Elementary Math Coach- The Hechinger Report published research showing that 25 percent of elementary teachers were unfamiliar with how to teach Common Core math standards in 2016, so a math education master's online could help you coach. These specialists train teachers on best practices, introduce math aids, give instructional feedback, suggest textbooks, lead workshops, monitor assessment scores, tweak curricula, and test new strategies.

High School Teacher- The SAT College Board stated that admission committees prefer three years of secondary math courses like Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Pre-Calculus, which means high schools need teachers for each. Getting an online math education master's will prepare for developing lessons, modeling numerical methods, accommodating disabilities, managing class behavior, analyzing student growth, and assigning proper grades.

Community College Instructor- Enrollment at America's 1,462 two-year postsecondary institutes has surpassed 9 million according to the Columbia CCRC, and math education masters online holders qualify for teaching here. Community college instructors deliver remedial or undergrad courses, facilitate numerical learning, assign practice problems, hold office hours, create program curricula, measure learning outcomes, and pass or fail students.

Director of Mathematics- Districts are increasingly hiring a director of mathematics to head multi-school initiatives since the Center for Education Reform reported that only 25 percent of U.S. seniors are math proficient. Finishing an online master's in math education would shape accountable leaders for defining curriculum goals, supervising teachers, raising attainment standards, planning professional development, and maximizing math budgets.

Mathematician- Outside teaching, masters in math education online grads could enter the U.S. News & World Report's #3 best business job utilizing numerical methods to solve real-world problems. Mathematicians are generally master's trained to develop formulas, design research, perform computations, test multiple variables, extrapolate data, support or disprove theories, identify trends, draw conclusions, and publish journal articles.

How Much Can Online Master's in Math Education Graduates Earn?

Locating cheap online master's in math education options is important because the modest mean salary for teachers is $46,880 on PayScale for little ROI. The National Education Association reports that weekly wages have risen just 0.8 percent beyond inflation since 1996 for an average starting profit of $30,377. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, math educators are compensated with median pay of $55,490 in elementary, $56,720 in middle, and $58,030 in high schools. Math curriculum developers earn slightly more at $62,460 on average. Postsecondary mathematical science teachers bring home mean income of $82,650. Private-sector jobs for mathematicians disburse an average annual salary of $105,600. On Salary.com, associate deans of mathematics have a median pay of $92,357. Other high averages after a math education online masters are $97,090 for education consultants, $93,214 for institutional research directors, $102,390 for headmasters, and $93,936 for statisticians.

What is the Job Outlook After Math Education Master's Online Programs?

Earning a master's in math education online isn't a calculated risk because teaching has steady job creation and high hiring probability in STEM subjects. In September 2017, the White House announced President Trump signed a memorandum to devote at least $200 million to promote high-quality math instruction this year. The Department of Labor predicts a 9 percent jump for 888,900 new teaching jobs nationwide by 2026. Math teachers can specifically expect 10-year growth of 8 percent in high, 8 percent in middle, and 7 percent in elementary schools. College faculty are expecting much faster-than-average increases of 15 percent for total employment of 197,800. Curriculum specialists will see jobs climb from 163,200 to 180,400 for 11 percent hikes. Mathematicians outside the K-12 education realm will have the quickest growth of 33 percent this decade. Business Insider chose Massachusetts, Virginia, Minnesota, Wyoming, and New Jersey as the most teacher-friendly states. Online master's in math education programs sharpen the skills principals seek for open positions inspiring young number ninjas anywhere.

Additional Sources:

Federal TEACH Grant
Washington Post
Association of Math Teacher Educators
NCES College Navigator

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This concludes our list of the 30 most affordable online math education masters.

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GradSchoolHub.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

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Explore different options for you based on your degree interests.